(Mods, wasn't sure if to place here or in Health; please do move if in the wrong place, sorry)
Hello! So, after six months after first getting her (and her being five months old then, Amy is now about eleven months old), things have finally settled down enough here that we can finally arrange to get her spayed; I'm going to call tomorrow and see if we can get in on the 24th or 25th (my father has blocked these days off so we'll have no guests in or any work to do; if we cannot get it on one of those days, well, we'll sort something out). However, as this is my first major operation on a rabbit I have, and Amy is my sweet little darling, I am more than a little nervous (I know that it's not very dangerous, she's quite healthy etc, but I will worry regardless), so I have many, many questions and advice to ask for, about the operation, and care both before and after, if you don't mind. I want to do this right, to have it all go as smoothly as possible for Amy.
I found this page, http://rabbit.org/faq-spaying-and-neutering/ quite useful, particularly the questions to ask when making the appointment. Does anyone have any ideas of any other questions I should ask? Anything to make sure of? This is information I need quite soon.
I've heard a few other pieces of advice; I should add that she is also not vaccinated, and that getting vaccinated at the same time as spaying makes them feel poorly. When should I arrange for the vaccinations? When the stitches come out?
I have heard it best to send some pellets and favourite greens/herbs along with the bun so they start eating right away; should I include hay, and since Amy loves just about all the food, it is all her favourite, is there any specifics I should avoid, anything easy on the tummy to suggest? Anything else to send with her?
I have a non slip bowl for water, because I've heard it's easier to drink from than a bottle post-spay, some Oxbrow Critical Care Fine Grind, syringes, a Snugglesafe heat pad, and have ordered a soft sleeping pad (http://www.deemillen.co.uk/snuggle-p-12057.html), she loves to flop on everything, and a blanket (I plan on sleeping with it so it smells like me, then sending it with her to the vet's; is this a good idea?). She has a Catit Cabrio Carrier with a bunvelope (https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/188551098/cotton-bun-velope-soft-quilted-carrier?ref=related-0) inside. In her XXL dog crate there is a wooden handmade house, her hay box and a plastic litter tray (alongside toys). Is there anything else anyone can think of?
Now, about exercise; Amy gets out for exercise in my bun proofed room during the day, and then through the living room on the couch for snuggles in the evening (I am very lucky in the Amy LOVES to come through the be petted/snuggled/generally made a fuss of; she is currently keeping my feet warm at the end of the recliner); I pick her up and carry her for this. How soon until we can resume normal exercise, and, particularly, cuddles? I don't want to stress her either physically or mentally; she does not, naturally, particularly like being picked up, I try to do it as carefully and infrequently as possible, and sometimes she needs some coaxing, but as soon as we're on the couch, she's all over me for attention, licking my hands and sitting on me. I have a canvas pop up playpen (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Easipet-Fab...TF8&qid=1401997302&sr=1-3&keywords=playpen+xl) I use with the chinchilla; can I use this with her for the first few days?
What should I do for her cage? I mean, do I line it with newspaper like normal, or go for old towels/blankets? She loves to chew and tear up the paper.
I think this is all I can think of for now, but I will most like have more questions, so watch this space. Thank you in advance very much for any help.
Hello! So, after six months after first getting her (and her being five months old then, Amy is now about eleven months old), things have finally settled down enough here that we can finally arrange to get her spayed; I'm going to call tomorrow and see if we can get in on the 24th or 25th (my father has blocked these days off so we'll have no guests in or any work to do; if we cannot get it on one of those days, well, we'll sort something out). However, as this is my first major operation on a rabbit I have, and Amy is my sweet little darling, I am more than a little nervous (I know that it's not very dangerous, she's quite healthy etc, but I will worry regardless), so I have many, many questions and advice to ask for, about the operation, and care both before and after, if you don't mind. I want to do this right, to have it all go as smoothly as possible for Amy.
I found this page, http://rabbit.org/faq-spaying-and-neutering/ quite useful, particularly the questions to ask when making the appointment. Does anyone have any ideas of any other questions I should ask? Anything to make sure of? This is information I need quite soon.
I've heard a few other pieces of advice; I should add that she is also not vaccinated, and that getting vaccinated at the same time as spaying makes them feel poorly. When should I arrange for the vaccinations? When the stitches come out?
I have heard it best to send some pellets and favourite greens/herbs along with the bun so they start eating right away; should I include hay, and since Amy loves just about all the food, it is all her favourite, is there any specifics I should avoid, anything easy on the tummy to suggest? Anything else to send with her?
I have a non slip bowl for water, because I've heard it's easier to drink from than a bottle post-spay, some Oxbrow Critical Care Fine Grind, syringes, a Snugglesafe heat pad, and have ordered a soft sleeping pad (http://www.deemillen.co.uk/snuggle-p-12057.html), she loves to flop on everything, and a blanket (I plan on sleeping with it so it smells like me, then sending it with her to the vet's; is this a good idea?). She has a Catit Cabrio Carrier with a bunvelope (https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/188551098/cotton-bun-velope-soft-quilted-carrier?ref=related-0) inside. In her XXL dog crate there is a wooden handmade house, her hay box and a plastic litter tray (alongside toys). Is there anything else anyone can think of?
Now, about exercise; Amy gets out for exercise in my bun proofed room during the day, and then through the living room on the couch for snuggles in the evening (I am very lucky in the Amy LOVES to come through the be petted/snuggled/generally made a fuss of; she is currently keeping my feet warm at the end of the recliner); I pick her up and carry her for this. How soon until we can resume normal exercise, and, particularly, cuddles? I don't want to stress her either physically or mentally; she does not, naturally, particularly like being picked up, I try to do it as carefully and infrequently as possible, and sometimes she needs some coaxing, but as soon as we're on the couch, she's all over me for attention, licking my hands and sitting on me. I have a canvas pop up playpen (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Easipet-Fab...TF8&qid=1401997302&sr=1-3&keywords=playpen+xl) I use with the chinchilla; can I use this with her for the first few days?
What should I do for her cage? I mean, do I line it with newspaper like normal, or go for old towels/blankets? She loves to chew and tear up the paper.
I think this is all I can think of for now, but I will most like have more questions, so watch this space. Thank you in advance very much for any help.
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